Straight answers,
with the prices in them.

Our repair visit is $395. Your technician diagnoses the problem and gives you a final price before any work starts. $395 is our average labor cost for a repair, so you know roughly what to expect. The exact cost depends on what we find. Parts are extra.

In most cases, yes. We offer same day service across San Diego County. Call in the morning and we can usually have a technician at your home within a few hours.

As a rule of thumb, if the unit is under 8 years old and the repair is under $590, repair usually makes sense. If it's over 10 years old and needs a major repair, replacement is often the better long term investment.

Yes. We repair all major tankless brands, including Rinnai, Navien, Noritz, Takagi and Rheem. We don't service electric tankless units.

All major residential brands: Rheem, Bradford White, AO Smith, Rinnai, Navien, Noritz, State, Kenmore, GE, Whirlpool, American Standard and Bosch.

Yes. All repairs are backed by our warranty on parts and labor. If the repair we did fails, we come back and make it right at no extra cost.

Central San Diego, North County and East County, including La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Coronado, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Poway, El Cajon, La Mesa and dozens more neighborhoods.

Yes, someone 18 or older needs to be there. The technician needs access to the water heater and may need to talk through options with you.

The clearest sign is a leak at the base of the tank, which means internal corrosion from a decayed anode rod. Other signs: a heater 8 to 12+ years old, rust colored hot water, less hot water and frequent repairs. An on site estimate anywhere in San Diego County is $395.

A tankless costs 2 to 3 times as much up front, then saves $175 to $275 a year and lasts up to 10 years longer than a tank. A conversion needs new venting and electrical work. The existing gas line works 99% of the time.

A tank to tank swap takes 2 to 4 hours. Tank to tankless takes 4 to 8 hours because of the gas line, venting and electrical work. If your heater fails in the morning, you can have hot water by the afternoon.

Bradford White for tanks (American made, contractor grade, same day parts locally) and Navien for tankless (stainless steel parts, built in recirculation on the A models, excellent reliability). We don't install big box store brands.

Yes. San Diego requires a permit for water heater replacements, and California requires an expansion tank with every new install. You can pull your own permit, or we handle it for an additional fee.

Removal and disposal of the old unit, the new water heater, an expansion tank, water and gas connections, seismic straps, testing and a maintenance walkthrough. You get the full price before any work starts.

For a tank: 40 gallons for 1 to 2 bathrooms, 50 gallons for 2 to 3, and 75 gallons for 3 to 4. For a Navien tankless: the NPE-180 for 1 to 2 bathrooms, the NPE-210 for 3, and the NPE-240 for 4 or more. Tankless sizing also depends on flow rate and temperature rise, and San Diego's warm incoming water is an advantage.

Yes, but it's more involved than a swap. A conversion needs new venting and electrical work. The existing gas line works 99% of the time, and upsizing it is rare. We handle all of it and make sure everything is up to code.

Hard water leaves mineral scale in a heat exchanger. The scale lowers performance and can damage the unit. Water treatment reduces that buildup. We assess the water quality and discuss treatment before recommending equipment. A tank water heater can also benefit from treatment.

Only if you have solar panels. They recover slowly (6 to 25 gallons an hour), need dedicated 240 volt electrical, are noisy, and their filters clog often. A tank or tankless is the better choice for most homes.

Yes, every installation needs a permit, and California requires an expansion tank. You can pull your own permit, or we handle it for an additional fee.

A standard tank install takes 2 to 4 hours. Tankless installs and tank to tankless conversions take 4 to 8 hours. Same day installation is available across San Diego County.

Sometimes. Water heaters and water filtration are what we do every day, along with every part connected to them: shutoff valves, pressure regulators, stands, seismic straps, supply lines, venting, T&P valves and gas lines. We are licensed plumbers, and we take on other plumbing jobs case by case. Ask us about yours.

The Ridiculous Warranty covers labor and parts with no questions asked, for up to 15 years. If we can't repair your heater, we install a new upgraded model for free. Repairs are also backed on parts and labor.

A tankless saves $175 to $275 a year, or $2,100 to $3,300 over 12 years, and lasts up to 10 years longer than a storage tank. It costs 2 to 3 times as much up front. In San Diego's hard water it needs a yearly flush, or a softener, priced separately.

Hard water leaves mineral scale in a heat exchanger. The scale lowers performance and can damage the unit. Water treatment reduces that buildup. A tankless needs a yearly flush. With a softener or scale prevention system, there's no need to flush it.

If you smell gas, leave the area and call your gas supplier or emergency services from outside. Otherwise, if safe to reach, turn off the heater's gas or electrical supply before shutting off its cold water inlet. Stay clear of hot water and standing water near electrical equipment. Call a qualified plumber before draining a hot or damaged tank. We extract the water, dry the structure, prevent mold, rebuild what was damaged and handle the insurance claim. We can install a temporary water heater while the work is done.

A San Diego water heater company founded by Brandon Baril, built on an old school foundation where your word means everything. We do water heaters, and any other plumbing job case by case. Our prices are on this site, and our guarantee is no questions asked.